Why Was Taylor Swift Suing Over $1?

Cast your mind back to 2013. Can you remember what you were doing? Pop Star, Taylor Swift, was at a meet-and-greet with country radio DJ, David Mueller, after a concert in Denver–being groped.

The 55-year-old DJ profusely denied Swift’s accusations and, after losing his job at the radio station, launched a lawsuit for $3 million in 2015 for defamation against Swift, her mother and her radio promotions manager.

He claimed that her false accusations led to him being fired from his job. He also denied having inappropriately touched Taylor Swift while taking a photo with her and his (then) girlfriend.

Taylor Swift Counter Sues for $1

In response to the charges of defamation, Taylor Swift counter-sued for $1 (a symbolic amount) for assault and battery. Why? Her reasons, she explained were twofold. Firstly, she wanted to make an example of a man and any such type of man who believe it’s okay to inappropriately touch or grope women.

Secondly, Taylor Swift acknowledged that she was not in the need of money and that she wanted instead to stand up for sexually assaulted women everywhere.

She said in a statement, “I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this… My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard.”

Guilty as Charged

On Monday afternoon, a jury comprised of two men and six women found David Mueller guilty of wrongly touching the pop star after the 2013 concert. Taylor Swift was awarded the $1 in damages she was seeking.

The judge further scrapped the $3 million suit against her, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Taylor Swift did anything improper to lead to the firing of Mr. Mueller.

“I’m not going to allow you or your client to make me feel in any way that this is my fault, because it isn’t,” said Taylor Swift, when she was questioned on the stand last week by Mueller’s lawyer. “I am being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are a product of his decisions and not mine.”

Jubilant after hearing the verdict, the pop star hugged her mother and pledged to further make donations to organizations that help victims of sexual assault.